PEDA awarded for solar rooftop power projects

Chandigarh: Recognizing the pioneering initiatives of Punjab on the solar power front and the efforts made by the state in promoting Solar Energy, Union Minister of State for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal, in a function held at New Delhi, awarded Punjab as ‘the state showing outstanding performance in solar rooftop power projects.’

Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) was awarded for being the best nodal agency in the country for solar rooftop projects and a special award was presented to Dera Beas for setting up world’s largest rooftop solar power plant. This award to the State is based on solar rooftop power generation capacity. A spokesperson of the government today said, “Under the dynamic guidance of Bikram Singh Majithia, New & Renewable Energy Minister, Punjab the state has scripted a success with Solar Energy generation and is all set to increase its green power generation from 9 MW to 1550 MW (172 times).

As of today, Punjab has 63 MW grid connected rooftop solar power generation capacity, the highest in the country.” Punjab has also recorded a massive increase in investment in this field from meager `70 crore to `12,000 crores besides creating employment avenues for 10,000 youth. “It has been possible as solar developers across the globe are investing in Punjab due to its best solar power promotion policy”, said Majithia.

He said that Punjab successfully organized the first ever Solar Summit last year, wherein top solar players including foreign solar giants had participated and were of the view that Punjab has one of the best solar power promotion policy in the country. Majithia said that the most exciting incentives under the state policy attracting big solar power players include no registration fee stamp duty on purchase/lease of land, exemption from CLU pollution clearance, state entry tax, Vat and property tax besides having 25 years bankable PPA with PSPCL having A+ rating.

He said that from the year 2013 to 2015, all tenders floated for power generation from renewable sources got the stupendous response just because of the transparency in the entire bidding process and facilitation to the developers through Punjab’s unique solar power generation promotion policy. He informed that facilitation is done through a dedicated website for online application and clearances.

On the consumer front, the Net Metering Roof Top Solar Policy is absolutely consumer-friendly, said he and added that under this policy one lakh buildings will be covered by the year 2022 resulting in 200MW of solar power generation. Showing regards for the Dera Beas for installing 19.5 MW prestigious solar power project, he said that this project would also go a long way in creating awareness about the eco-friendly solar power amongst the general public as lakhs devotees visit the Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, annually. It is pertinent to mention here that in solar energy, Punjab has got accolades at national level and last year Punjab received ‘Best performing State award in Solar Energy’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who presented this award to Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia